James d



(No Model.)

J. D. W. KING. BOOT ORISHOE.

No. 541,814. Patented June 25, 1895..

NITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. W KING, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO B. L. HOUGI'ITON, OF SAME PLACE.

BOOT OR SHOE.

EZPECIFICATION forming part; of Letters Patent No. 541,814,:1atecl June 25, 1895.

Application filed August 2, 1893. Serial No. 482,184. (No model.)

To all whom it nmy concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES D. 7. KING, a citizen of the United States, residing atBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New 5 York, have invented a certain new and use ful Improvement in Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a side View of the rear part of to a shoe embodying my improvement. Fig. 2

is a View of the same in central vertical section.

A main object of the improvement is to neutralize the concussion of the foot on hard surfaces, a concussion that exercises a hurtful and painful effect upon many persons.

In the drawings the improvement is shown as applied to the heel of a shoe. It may, also, be applied under the ball or fore part of the foot. 5

In the drawings the letter a denotes a hollow vessel of strong, elastic material such as' vulcanized rubber, fastened to the heel of the shoe. Preferably the vessel is furnished with a lip b fastened, as by cementing, to the periphery of the shoe heel.

The letter 0 denotes aplate of material such for instance, as thin sheet steel, embedded or molded in the rubber and corrugated to pre- 3o vent its creeping from its proper place. Its purpose is to prevent the hollow vessel from being accidentally punctured when the wearer steps upon sharp stones or the like.

' The letter (Z denotes a valve (of any suitable construction) through which an elastic fluid,

such, for instance as air, may be introduced into the hollow vessel under compression when byclosing the valve, the fluid will be retained under compression in the vessel. The compression is carried to that degree that the 40 hollow vessel yields but slightly under the weight of the wearer of the shoe and main-. tains in practical use, its integrity as a shoeheel.

The description so far has taken no note of 5 theinteriorvesseleand the improvement may I be utilized to a degree without the presence of such inner vessel but preferably that vessel is used. It consists of ahollow vessel of strong elastic material, impervious to air, located within the outer vessel a, and itself containing the compressed air. To that end the valve 61 communicates therewith.

I claim as my improvement The improvedelastic heel for boots and shoes herein described, consisting of a hollow impervious. boxing shaped to the configuration of a proper heel, containing an impervious pneumatic receptacle or bag, as e, filling and retaining valve d, opening as shown in the front wall of the heel, where it is protected against derangement, and corrugatedmetal shield plate 0, all substantially as specified.

JAMES D. W. KING.

Witnesses:

CHAs. F. PATTERSON, OHAs. M. EARLE. 

